Parliamentary questions

Dorothy-Grace Elder

645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

2 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage health boards to increase their funding to local voluntary organisations.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Local voluntary organisations make an important contribution to health improvement and health care services across Scotland. Health boards are best placed to judge, in consultation with local voluntary organisations and other partners, how to use their discre…

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to take any action on the recommendations of the report by the Institution of Civil Engineers, Inspection of Multi-Storey Car Parks, which recommends that all owners of car parks over 12 years old should engage an engineer to carry out an inspection.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive will be maintaining a watching brief on the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) project Enhancement of Whole Life Performance of Existing and Future Car Parks. This project, which started in January 20…

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation in line with the proposals for a Safety Bill in England and Wales as announced in the Queen's Speech.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The Queen's Speech of 6 December 2000 announced the UK Government's intention to draft a Safety Bill. The Bill will apply across Great Britain, and in some cases the UK. Officials from the Executive and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the…

14 Mar 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what response it plans to make to the joint operation between Scottish police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that led to capture of an internet child sex pornographer and whether it will make increased police numbers available to deal with such international child protection issu…

Answer · Jim Wallace: Effective co-operation between law enforcement agencies is an important element in the fight against crime. Record levels of funding mean that, by next year, the number of police officers in Scotland should be the highest ever. This will better enable the pol…

8 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider recommending that supermarkets adopt a policy of buying local meat from local abattoirs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In my discussions with retailers I strongly encourage them to source more produce from Scotland.

8 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the re-opening of local abattoirs in order to help local farms to alleviate any suffering of animals on long journeys and to help curb the spread of disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Virtually all of the abattoirs which were closed as a result of the Foot and Mouth outbreak have now reopened to handle livestock movement for slaughter. This makes outlets available locally.

8 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will end the transportation of live animals on long journeys to slaughter and adopt a policy of local slaughter and long haul transportation of carcasses only.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is taking all necessary steps to contain and eradicate foot and mouth disease from livestock in Scotland. This is the first priority.Most slaughter is taking place locally and this is being encouraged. However, having taken advice fr…

8 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a major factor in spreading foot and mouth disease has been the practice of sending animals on lengthy journeys to slaughter.

Answer · Ross Finnie: All aspects of this very serious disease outbreak will be carefully reviewed once the outbreak has been eliminated. The movement of stock is likely to be one of the issues which is addressed.

6 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of a recent instance when a child came across unsuitable material on a computer in a Glasgow library, it will ask local authorities to check that Internet access in all public libraries is permanently screened to prevent access to pornographic, racist or other offens…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The responsibility for public libraries in Scotland lies with local authorities and it is for Glasgow City Council to consider the action required. If the proper safeguards are in place e.g. filtering, then the incidents should be minimal. Public libraries ar…

13 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any protesters were strip searched at any police station following the protest at Faslane on 12 February 2001 and, if so, what the sex and ages were of the protestors searched in this way.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for Strathclyde Police.

12 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to intervene to prevent the demolition of the William Chalmers Burns Memorial Hall in Kilsyth, in view of his historical significance as the first British missionary to China.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:I understand that a building warrant has been granted for the demolition of the Burns Memorial Hall, Kilsyth. The hall, which is owned by North Lanarkshi…

7 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to Glasgow City Council to enable it to meet its commitments under section 87 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 relating to 312 outstanding statutory notices served on property throughout Glasgow for which it had only allocated a default budget of…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Local authorities receive funding under the general services account. It is for them to allocate resources from that account to meet commitments to pay repairs grant following service of a notice under section 87 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

7 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, in particular section 87, to oblige rather than just empower local authorities to carry out necessary repair works on properties where the owners have failed to do so.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: No. It is for homeowners to maintain their dwellings and any common parts. However if by neglect, or for some other reason, the condition of a building threatens health or safety the 1982 Act enables authorities to carry out necessary works and recover the co…

5 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend relevant legislation so as to place restrictions, similar to those which apply to bicycles, on the use of micro-scooters in public places.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No. The use of a micro-scooter in a footway, footpath or cycle track is an offence under section 129(5) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. The level and manner of enforcement is an operational matter for Chief Constables.

31 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prevent the closure of local swimming pools and to encourage swimming as a healthy form of exercise.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Decisions on the provision of local sports facilities including swimming pools are a matter for local authorities. On the Scottish Executive’s behalf, sportscotland spends around £600,000 per year on the development of swimming.

25 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide statistics on the incidence of depressive illness among staff in each of the last three years in the Scottish Prison Service.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Depressive illness among SPS staff from 1 September 1999 to 25 January 2001 accounted for 62 periods of absence from …

25 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide statistics on the number of stress-related illnesses suffered by prison officers and other Scottish Prison Service staff in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Stress-related illness among SPS staff from 1 September 1999 to 25 January 2001 accounted for 118 periods of absence …

25 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to update any anti-workplace bullying strategies within the Scottish Prison Service.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:No. On 1 September 2000, the Scottish Prison Service launched a new strategy document entitled "How to challenge and change una…

25 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports of bullying and intimidation by colleagues were lodged by staff and management in the Scottish Prison Service in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Over the last three years there have been 13 reports of bullying and intimidation formally presented to the Agency's Equal Oppo…

17 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the appeal by the Convenor of Culture and Leisure at Glasgow City Council for an additional #2 million aid for Glasgow's museums.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: No such appeal has been received. I met representatives of the council on 19 January as the first step of our commitment in the National Cultural Strategy to work with the council to examine the circumstances of their museum service.

15 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to investigate waiting lists for cardiac transplant surgery at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The waiting list is kept under constant review. Its size is influenced by a number of factors, including referral rates and the availability of medical therapies as alternatives to transplantation.

8 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate the cleanliness and bacteria levels in all NHSiS hospitals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Hospital cleanliness and hygiene is a priority area for action by the NHS in Scotland. "Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change", published on 14 December, makes clear that the Scottish Executive expects every NHS Trust to act…

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ask Highland Council, Inverness and Nairn Enterprise and the Scottish Arts Council to assist Balnain House, Inverness, to remain open.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No. The company decided to go into liquidation on 25 January this year.

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to intervene to prevent any liquidation of the Highland Cultural Centre at Balnain House, Inverness.

Answer · Allan Wilson: None. The company went into liquidation on 25 January this year.

19 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the contractual arrangement between the Scottish Prison Service and Medacs, including all costings involved.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The contract awarded to Medacs provides Primary Care Medical Services to all SPS prison locations. These services comprise regular scheduled &q…

19 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to answer criticisms in the response by Greater Glasgow Health Council to Greater Glasgow Health Board's Acute Services Review regarding perceived lack of action following the first phase of its consultation exercise.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-12120.

19 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide the increased specialisation of patient care recommended in Glasgow Health Council's response to Greater Glasgow Health Board's Acute Services Review.

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for Greater Glasgow Health Board, working with the NHS Trusts in its area and other stakeholders, to carry through the Acute Services Review. In discussing the review with the board and NHS Trusts, I and my officials have emphasised the importance of th…

13 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any additional resources available for environmental monitoring of radioactive output in the Faslane area following any privatisation of the servicing, repair and monitoring of the nuclear facilities at the Faslane Naval Base and what these resources will be.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) already carries out a monitoring programme of radioactivity in the Scottish environment covering all major nuclear facilities, including Faslane. The scope of the monitoring is determined by criteria such as t…

13 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the economic impact of the possible loss of Ministry of Defence jobs following any privatisation of servicing, repair and monitoring of the nuclear facilities at the Faslane Naval Base.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in close contact with the Ministry of Defence and it will continue to monitor developments regarding proposals for naval base and dockyard rationalisation. The Ministry of Defence has stressed that no final decisions have been made.

13 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor public health and safety in the Faslane area following any privatisation of the servicing, repairs and monitoring of the nuclear facilities at the Faslane Naval Base.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Legislation is already in place to cover health and safety matters, including the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which imposes a general duty on employers to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of workers and members of the general public are …